Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - Miguel Cabrera hit a two-run homer, while
Andy Dirks added a solo shot and two RBI as Detroit downed Cleveland, 5-1, in
the first of a two-game set.

Prince Fielder knocked in the other run and Victor Martinez contributed three
hits for the Tigers, who had dropped four of five coming in.

Max Scherzer (6-0) worked eight strong innings, giving up just two hits and
one run while striking out seven with one walk. He retired the final 22
batters he faced after giving up Cleveland's lone run in the bottom of the
first inning, including a 98 m.p.h. fastball to Drew Stubbs to complete his
outing.

"He knew that was going to be it," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "He really
cranked it up. That was pretty impressive."

Michael Bourn finished with two hits and scored the lone run on Michael
Brantley's sacrifice fly for the Indians, whose five-game win streak came to
an end.

Dirks began the sixth with a solo homer, and after Torii Hunter doubled,
Cabrera's two-run shot put Detroit up 3-1.

"With nobody out, you're asking for trouble," Francona said of his decision to
pitch to last season's Triple Crown winner. "If you walk him and you have
first and second with nobody out, you're putting your pitcher in a tough
spot."

The Tigers pushed two more runs across in the ninth to seal the victory. Alex
Avila drew a one-out walk off David Huff, then Omar Infante and Dirks hit
back-to-back singles to provide a 4-1 margin.

Matt Albers took the mound to retire Hunter on a grounder which moved both
runners into scoring position. After Cabrera was given a free pass to load the
bases, Fielder's base hit scored Infante for a four-run bulge.

Jose Valverde then stranded two runners in the bottom of the ninth by inducing
a game-ending pop out from Carlos Santana.

Bourn kicked off the home first with a single, went to third on a one-out hit
from Asdrubal Cabrera then crossed the plate on Brantley's fly to right field.

Scherzer could do little wrong from there and struck out the last four batters
he faced.

Game Notes

The Tigers improved to 7-2 when Scherzer takes the mound this season ... The
28-year-old right-hander tied a career best by winning six decisions from the
start of a season without a loss, equaling the commencement to his 2011
campaign ... Infante added two hits in the Detroit victory ... Prior to the
game, the Tigers purchased the contract of pitcher Luke Putkonen from Triple-A
Toledo ... Cleveland pitchers fanned 14 Tigers in the setback.